Cockroft settles thriller

Last year’s top two in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League, Booth and Warley, fought out a tense, close contest on the second Saturday of the 2017 season.

Number 11 batsman Robert Cockroft settled the contest in favour of champions Booth, hitting a Luke Duckitt delivery to the boundary behind point to give the visitors a one-wicket win.

There was some good bowling and the wickets were shared on a decent pitch.

Ben Atkinson (69), back from playing football with Brighouse Town, and Greg Keywood (33) were the only two to stand firm as Warley were dismissed for 136.

That total was almost enough as the home attack chipped away at Booth’s batting line-up and were boosted when visiting top scorer Richard Laycock 24) was run out at the nonstriker’s end when a ball hit back down the pitch hit the wickets via the bowler’s fingers.

Mark Johnstone, called up from the seconds, took Booth to the brink of victory with 21 not out before the experienced Cockroft struck the winning blow.

Booth have 23 points, the same as promoted Oxenhope, but it is Thornton who are showing the way with a maximum 24.

Thornton romped to a 142-run win at Northowram Hedge Top, who were bowled out cheaply for the second week in a row.

Joshua Hutchinson made 72 for Thornton in the visitors’ 240 all out and Ross Parr then took five for 47 as the hosts capsized from 71 for two to 98 all out.

Oxenhope were 59 run winners at Triangle thanks to excellent performances from Josh Tetley (94 no) and Scott Mallinson (six for 65).

Mytholmroyd lost their last five wickets with their total on 52 at Copley, losing by 104 runs.

Experienced Mark Baldwin applied him,self well to help Copley to 156 for eight with a knock of 56 and then it was over to Chris Dennison (five for 25) and Ian Hartley (four for 21) to complete the job.

It was wickets, rather than runs, which were hard to come by when Jer Lane made the short trip to Queensbury.

Queensbury posted 243 for three, with Hanif making 71 runs, but Lane knocked them off for the loss of only Ian Hall (67) as Raqeeb Younis contributed 123 before retiring hurt.

Ben Watkins scored 105 at the top of the Sowerby SP order as his side beat visitors SBCI by 96 runs.

Sowerby made 248 for eight and Chris Greenwood (five for 54) helped limit the visitors to 152 with Simon Wood (82) in good form for the second week running.